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London-based artist Débora Silva has helped immortalize these moments of turmoil we're living through with 3D scans of various protesters on the streets. The post 3D Scans of Black Lives Matter Protesters Immortalize Moment in History appeared first on Moss and Fog.

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Solar Panels to Live Again on the White House

In 1979, a prescient Jimmy Carter installed an array of solar panels on the roof of the White House. In 1986, under the Reagan Administration, those panels were torn down. (What a surprise). What followed was a drying up of investment in energy efficiency.

Twenty four years later, efficiency is back in the public discourse, and hopefully for good. Environmentalist and author Bill McKibben and a number of college students, are working towards a day of climate action on 10/10/10. McKibben’s non-profit is called 350.org.

With their pressing, the Obama Administration has just announced that once again, solar panels will live on the White House roof, supplying some of the mansion’s electrical needs.

The most famous residence in America, which has already boosted its green credentials by planting a garden, plans to install solar panels atop the White House’s living quarters. The solar panels are to be installed by spring 2011, and will heat water for the first family and supply some electricity.

Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced the plans Tuesday in Washington at a conference of local, state, academic and nonprofit leaders aimed at identifying how the federal government can improve its environmental performance.

Obama, who has championed renewable energy, has been under increasing pressure by the solar industry and environmental activists to lead by example by installing solar at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, something White House officials said has been under consideration since he first took office.

The decision perhaps has more import now after legislation to reduce global warming pollution died in the Senate, despite the White House’s support. Obama has vowed to try again on a smaller scale.

Last month, global warming activists with 350.org carried one of Carter’s solar panels – which were removed in 1986 – from Unity College in Maine to Washington to urge Obama to put solar panels on his roof. It was part of a global campaign to persuade world leaders to install solar on their homes. After a meeting with White House officials, they left Washington without a commitment.

Bill McKibben said Tuesday the administration did the right thing.

“If it has anything like the effect of the White House garden, it could be a trigger for a wave of solar installations across the country and around the world,” McKibben said in a statement.

What was unclear Tuesday was how much the White House solar project will cost, and how much fossil fuel-based electricity it would displace, since the system is not yet designed and the White House will not disclose how much energy is needed to keep the president’s lights turned on.

Based on available roof space, administration officials expect the photovoltaic system will include between 25 to 75 panels and will convert sunlight into 19,700 kilowatt hours of electricity a year. That would save a typical household $2,300 on its electricity bill, based on commercial rates in Washington. The solar hot water heating system, based on government estimates, could save an additional $1,000 a year.